The village of Fonda was named after Douw "The Patriot" Fonda. Douw served in the New York Militia in the early frontier skirmishes and was actively involved in early trading and commerce in the Mohawk Valley. He became friendly with both the English and the Indians.
The original land patent (Collins Tract) which now comprises the town of Mohawk and the village of Fonda was granted by Gov. Hunter to John, Edward and Margaret Collins in 1714. The tract, which consisted of 2000 acres on the north side of the Mohawk River above Tribes Hill, was purchased by Douw Fonda, Myndert Wemple and Hendrick Vrooman in the period of 1730-40. These families settled this land with Douw and his family moving from Schenectady to the Collins Tract in 1751.
Douw was an aged widower & he resided in a large stone dwelling which stood on the flats between the present turnpike and the Mohawk River. The cellar of this dwelling, which had wings on each side, can be seen at the present race track of the Montgomery Co. Agric. Assoc. in Fonda.
Douw was killed by Sir John Johnson's Indians on May 22, 1780 in a raid of the Mohawk Valley which was in retaliation for earlier defeats at Oriskany and Saratoga. His house was plundered & burned, sons John & Adam were made prisoners and taken to Canada and held for two years. Douw Fonda had been a close personal friend of Sir Wm. Johnson (the father, who had passed) and had always been on good terms with the Indians, but his life was taken as "heartlessly" as though he were an active enemy.
He was 79 yrs. old and at the time and another house, in the center of town, on Cayadutta Street, was being built. It was completed after his death (1781) and was occupied by son John and family. The Village of Fonda was named for Douw "The Patriot" Fonda in 1850.
The original land patent (Collins Tract) which now comprises the town of Mohawk and the village of Fonda was granted by Gov. Hunter to John, Edward and Margaret Collins in 1714. The tract, which consisted of 2000 acres on the north side of the Mohawk River above Tribes Hill, was purchased by Douw Fonda, Myndert Wemple and Hendrick Vrooman in the period of 1730-40. These families settled this land with Douw and his family moving from Schenectady to the Collins Tract in 1751.
Douw was an aged widower & he resided in a large stone dwelling which stood on the flats between the present turnpike and the Mohawk River. The cellar of this dwelling, which had wings on each side, can be seen at the present race track of the Montgomery Co. Agric. Assoc. in Fonda.
Douw was killed by Sir John Johnson's Indians on May 22, 1780 in a raid of the Mohawk Valley which was in retaliation for earlier defeats at Oriskany and Saratoga. His house was plundered & burned, sons John & Adam were made prisoners and taken to Canada and held for two years. Douw Fonda had been a close personal friend of Sir Wm. Johnson (the father, who had passed) and had always been on good terms with the Indians, but his life was taken as "heartlessly" as though he were an active enemy.
He was 79 yrs. old and at the time and another house, in the center of town, on Cayadutta Street, was being built. It was completed after his death (1781) and was occupied by son John and family. The Village of Fonda was named for Douw "The Patriot" Fonda in 1850.
The village of Fonda was named after Douw "The Patriot" Fonda. Douw served in the New York Militia in the early frontier skirmishes and was actively involved in early trading and commerce in the Mohawk Valley. He became friendly with both the English and the Indians.
The original land patent (Collins Tract) which now comprises the town of Mohawk and the village of Fonda was granted by Gov. Hunter to John, Edward and Margaret Collins in 1714. The tract, which consisted of 2000 acres on the north side of the Mohawk River above Tribes Hill, was purchased by Douw Fonda, Myndert Wemple and Hendrick Vrooman in the period of 1730-40. These families settled this land with Douw and his family moving from Schenectady to the Collins Tract in 1751.
Douw was an aged widower & he resided in a large stone dwelling which stood on the flats between the present turnpike and the Mohawk River. The cellar of this dwelling, which had wings on each side, can be seen at the present race track of the Montgomery Co. Agric. Assoc. in Fonda.
Douw was killed by Sir John Johnson's Indians on May 22, 1780 in a raid of the Mohawk Valley which was in retaliation for earlier defeats at Oriskany and Saratoga. His house was plundered & burned, sons John & Adam were made prisoners and taken to Canada and held for two years. Douw Fonda had been a close personal friend of Sir Wm. Johnson (the father, who had passed) and had always been on good terms with the Indians, but his life was taken as "heartlessly" as though he were an active enemy.
He was 79 yrs. old and at the time and another house, in the center of town, on Cayadutta Street, was being built. It was completed after his death (1781) and was occupied by son John and family. The Village of Fonda was named for Douw "The Patriot" Fonda in 1850.
The original land patent (Collins Tract) which now comprises the town of Mohawk and the village of Fonda was granted by Gov. Hunter to John, Edward and Margaret Collins in 1714. The tract, which consisted of 2000 acres on the north side of the Mohawk River above Tribes Hill, was purchased by Douw Fonda, Myndert Wemple and Hendrick Vrooman in the period of 1730-40. These families settled this land with Douw and his family moving from Schenectady to the Collins Tract in 1751.
Douw was an aged widower & he resided in a large stone dwelling which stood on the flats between the present turnpike and the Mohawk River. The cellar of this dwelling, which had wings on each side, can be seen at the present race track of the Montgomery Co. Agric. Assoc. in Fonda.
Douw was killed by Sir John Johnson's Indians on May 22, 1780 in a raid of the Mohawk Valley which was in retaliation for earlier defeats at Oriskany and Saratoga. His house was plundered & burned, sons John & Adam were made prisoners and taken to Canada and held for two years. Douw Fonda had been a close personal friend of Sir Wm. Johnson (the father, who had passed) and had always been on good terms with the Indians, but his life was taken as "heartlessly" as though he were an active enemy.
He was 79 yrs. old and at the time and another house, in the center of town, on Cayadutta Street, was being built. It was completed after his death (1781) and was occupied by son John and family. The Village of Fonda was named for Douw "The Patriot" Fonda in 1850.
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